Re: We hardly knew ye

: : : I was wondering the origin of the phrase: [goodbye/farewell] ___, [we/i] barely knew [thee/ye/you].
: : : as in, "Farewell Pluto, we barely knew thee." I think the goodbye/farewell is optional as well.

: : I think that those who are using similar phrases to the one about Pluto are harking back to the phrase, "Johnny, we hardly knew ye," Ken O'Donnell's memoir of JFK written shortly after his death. At the time of O'Donnell's book it seemed that the phrase may have been borrowed by him, but I've seen no earlier use of a similar phrase.
: : SS

: Old Irish ballad/lament:

: Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

: While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
: While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
: While goin' the road to sweet Athy,
: A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye,
: A doleful damsel I heard cry,
: Johnny I hardly knew ye.

: Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
: Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
: Where are your eyes that were so mild,
: When my heart you so beguiled
: Why did ye run from me and the child
: Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

: Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
: Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
: Where are your legs that used to run,
: When you went for to carry a gun
: Indeed your dancing days are done
: Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

: I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
: I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
: I'm happy for to see ye home,
: All from the island of Sulloon;
: So low in flesh, so high in bone
: Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye

: They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
: They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
: They're rolling out the guns again,
: But they never will take our sons again
: No they never will take our sons again
: Johnny I'm swearing to ye

Thanks, Bob. Do you happen to know if it's sung to the tune of "When Johnny comes marching home again"?
SS